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Report: Test speedster’s surprise omission as Australia makes 12-month contract call on openers

Cricket Australia is reportedly poised to confirm a surprise contract call over Test speedster Jhye Richardson, despite being brought back into the international fray less than four months ago.

CODE Sports’ Daniel Cherny revealed on Tuesday evening that the Western Australia speedster will be overlooked in favour of South Australia’s Brendan Doggett and Queensland Michael Neser — the latter enjoying yet another stellar summer after turning 36 just days ago.

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Richardson was welcomed back into the country’s Test side for the first time in four years for Australia’s Boxing Day blockbuster against England, having been sidelined a number of times since his last Test in December of 2021.

The 29-year-old has predominantly dealt with recurring shoulder setbacks, and has endured surgeries that have limited his ability to bowl as fast as he once did.

Doggett took part in Australia’s first two Tests of the summer, taking seven wickets across the matches at an average of 30.71.

Victorian off-spinner Todd Murphy will also return to Cricket Australia’s central contract list after his omission 12 months ago, as the 25-year-old eyes off a welcome return to the five-day format for Australia’s tour of India beginning next January.

Murphy, who has performed more than serviceably in his seven Tests to date, joins Nathan Lyon and Matt Kuhnemann as the specialist tweakers on the expected 21-man list.

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In the batting department, the flexible Matt Renshaw can consider himself unlucky to have not inked a new deal with CA, after a huge domestic summer which has seen him make both his ODI and T20I debuts inside the last six months.

From six matches in the Sheffield Shield, the 30-year-old hit 499 runs at an average of 49.90, inclusive of three centuries and a fifty for Queensland.

Cherny reports that the injured Lance Morris will not retain his deal, while new Test opener Jake Weatherald unsurprisingly has earned himself a one-year contract ahead of the country’s next Test series against Bangladesh in August.

Cricket Australia will release their full official list on Wednesday.

 
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